The Value of Beta Readers

Every time I finish a new manuscript, I ask people to read it and give me their feedback. All authors do this, or should, and my critique partners are invaluable. They are fellow writers with an eye for detail. They point out problems and aspects of my work that need improvement. No one likes criticism, but I’m grateful that they care to offer it. It helps me craft a better story.

I also ask other people to have a look. Some are good friends, some I hardly know, but they are for the most part not authors. They are beta readers. They are people who enjoy reading, and it’s useful to see what they think of my stories. Do they like them? Do they have questions? Are they confused? I’m the author. Everything is clear to me. It all comes from my head. Whether I communicate my thoughts to the page effectively or not, I know them. I have the whole picture, but readers don’t have that advantage. They have what I write, and nothing more.

I recently heard back from someone who read one of the manuscripts I’m working on. She loved it, and she had good things to say, but there was one thing that fell short for her. It was the climactic scene! I’d worked so hard on that. I thought it was perfect, emotional, and moving, but for her, it wasn’t good enough. She told me why, and it was one of those things that I kind of knew all along. It bugged me every time I read over the work, but not enough to do anything about it. I didn’t think it was important. I had the whole concept in mind, with all the mystery and wonder involved in that moment. I didn’t need extra words to feel the impact.

But she was right. I added to the scene. By the time I was finished, I had several additional pages, and now I can’t imagine the book without them. My reader agreed. Much better.

That’s how it goes for every book I write. There’s always someone who asks a question or makes a comment that spurs me to add something or clarify, and I’m so thankful that those people share their thoughts.